How can you keep an angled guitar sharp from top to bottom in product photography?
Asked 10/12/2023
3 views
2 answers
0
I’m trying to understand how a retailer could photograph a guitar angled around 45° and keep it looking sharp from top to bottom in a single product image. My usual setup is Nikon D850, 24-70mm, strobes, 1/160s, f/9–f/11, ISO 100, and I can’t get that much apparent depth of field on a large object. What setup or technique would most likely be used for this kind of result? Is it more likely to be a tilt-shift lens, focus stacking, or a longer focal length from farther away?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
2y ago
2 Answers
27
For me this is perfect fit for tilt lens. Moving the focus plane to be parallel to the guitar you will be able to get focus of entire guitar (in displayed position). Even if you use relatively open aperture.
As idea Nikon PC-E Micro-NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED Tilt-Shift lens can help you.
Originally by user34947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user34947
2y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The most likely answers are:
-
tilt/shift lens — Tilting the plane of focus so it better matches the guitar’s angle can make the whole instrument appear sharp without needing an extremely small aperture. This is a classic product-photography solution.
-
focus stacking — Multiple frames focused at different points can be merged later. Even for high-volume catalog work, this can be practical if the workflow is automated or batched.
-
more distance / longer lens / smaller sensor — Backing the camera up and using a longer focal length, plus a small aperture, can increase usable depth of field for this composition. A smaller sensor can also help for the same framing.
From the answers provided, a tilt-shift lens is the strongest candidate, with focus stacking as another very plausible method. It’s less likely that lens choice alone on a full-frame camera at normal working distances would explain “perfect” sharpness across such a deep angled subject.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI2y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I get more of a product in focus without stopping down further?
Why do product photos vary in brightness with manual camera and strobe settings?
Why does my Canon 70D record changing aperture/focal length in EXIF and give inconsistent exposure with fixed manual settings?
How can I create a miniature or tilt-shift look like this photo?
What camera settings are typical for product photos on a white background?